Ethan’s story – Breaking the autism glass ceiling

Dalia Shkedy from San Diego, California, USA wanted to share with us her experience and inspire more parents never to give up. She’s the mum behind the Alternative Teaching Strategy Center, a non-profit NPA (non-public agency) registered with the California Department of Education.

This is her son’s story:

My son, Ethan is a 17-year-old nonverbal boy with autism and
verbal apraxia. At the age of 10, the experts said he would never
read, write, or do math.

Today, Ethan is doing advanced math including algebra. His reading
comprehension is amazing, his handwriting is legible and improving
daily, and he types 65 words a minute independently. Click here to watch.

Many parents of children with special needs have been told by the experts that there
is no hope for their children they will never be able to ________
(fill in the blank). It is for these parents that we created this
video full of hope and inspiration. Ethan was one of these children,
told by the “experts” after conventional methods did not seem to be
working, that Ethan would never read, write, or do ordinary academics.
His goal in life would be to learn life skills only. Ethan has proved
them wrong! Through hard work, patience, and an alternative teaching
strategy that begins with believing the child can learn and thinking
outside the “conventional” box, Ethan has learned what was deemed
impossible.

I hope my son’s story will inspire the education system to change the
way they view kids with autism, especially the non verbal.
Currently there is no curriculum at all. All they teach them is
functional skills.

Verbal ability does not equal intelligence!
Thank you,
Dalia

Category: Guest posts